President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is now a bona fide member of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), the nation’s sole government approved copyright collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings. President Jonathan’s COSON membership certificate was presented to him in Abuja on Saturday, February 6 at an exquisite event to celebrate his nomination by his party to contest the forthcoming presidential election.
The membership certificate was presented on behalf of the COSON Board, by Nigeria’s Queen of Soul, Ms. Onyeka Onwenu, a member of the Board of Copyright Society of Nigeria, Africa’s fastest growing collective management organization. Unknown to many, President Jonathan is the composer of three songs contained in “Inspiration for Change”, a recent CD released by Onyeka. The songs are Change,
How Wonderful and Run, Goodluck Run.
While presenting the certificate, Ms. Onwenu thanked the president for the demonstrated support of his government for the full development of the Nigerian entertainment industry exemplified by two important decisions, the COSON approval and the recent setting up of an entertainment fund. In the words of Ms. Onwenu, “the COSON approval has given different facets of the music industry the opportunity to work together like never before. The recent and historic music copyright licensing of all the stations of FRCN would not have been possible without COSON. The music copyright licensing of the telecommunication value added service providers could not have occurred if the music industry was not speaking with one voice under COSON. The prosecution of the alleged ‘Alaba King of Pirates’ would have been impossible without COSON. COSON stands for progress and we are honoured to have you as our distinguished member, Mr. President” Present at the event were the Vice President, Senate President and several ministers.
Speaking on the development, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji said. “I am happy of course with the President’s identification with the work that we are doing and I have been informed by many who watched the television broadcast of the presentation that it was done with grace. There is no one who likes good things who will not be happy with the painstaking and professional example being set by COSON. We are leaving no stone unturned in building a long lasting institution that every Nigerian would be proud of. We are inspired by the support of the young and old in our industry and certainly by the support of Mr. President”
In less than nine months of its approval, COSON now enjoys the membership of nearly all the celebrated icons of Nigeria’s evergreen sounds like Ebenezer Obey, Victor Uwaifo, Onyeka Onwenu, Dan Maraya Jos, Christy Essien Igbokwe, Funmi Adams, Ras Kimono, Majek Fashek, Daniel Wilson, Alex Zitto, Shina Peters, Wale Thompson, Kollington Ayinla, Adewale Ayuba, Fatai Rolling Dollar, Orlando Julius, Stella Monye, etc. COSON also has within its ranks the trail blazers of Nigeria’s music of the new millennium such as 2Face Idibia, Sammie Okposo, Olu Maintain, 9ice, Sunny Neji, Rugged Man, DJ Stramborella, Eddy Remedy, Mr. Kool, 2 Shotz, Baba Dee, Bouqui, Rooftop MCs, Kenny Saint Brown, Kefee, Midnite Crew, Eldee De Don, M I, Azeezat, Jazzman Olofin, KC Presh, X Project, Asha, Konga, African China, Owen Gee, Dekunle Fuji, Lord of Ajasa, Zoolezoo, Ekwe Original Stereoman, Danfo Drivers, Rhymzo, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Djinee, Omawunmi, TWO, Solid Star, Waje, Mo’Cheddah, Sound Sultan, Timaya, Jay Martin, Muma Gee, AY. Com, ID Cabassa, Klever J, Zidon Poperella, Terry G, Nomoreloss, W4, Omotola Jelade Ekehinde, Yinka Ayefele, OJB Jezreel, and hundreds of others.
Practically all the never-to-be-forgotten repertoire of the nation’s departed artistes such as Osita Osadebe, Orlando Owoh, Oliver De Coque, Rex Jim Lawson, Celestine Ukwu, Ayinla Omowura, Sonny Okosun, Bala Miller, etc, are managed on behalf of the repertoire owners by COSON for the benefit of their successors. The major music publishers in Nigeria have also placed hundreds of thousands of titles under the management of COSON.
Aapproved in May, 2010 by the Federal Government as the sole CMO for musical works and sound recordings in Nigeria, COSON has continued to enjoy the support in terms of training and manpower development by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the United Nations specialized agency for intellectual property issues around the world.
